So while you are all doing your wine tasting.. in fancy restaurants, I’ve come to Cottons in Vauxhall – the newest edition to the Cottons family.. Only opened in September of this year.. – to experience rum that’s more than your typical Barcadi and coke, rum that’s so smooth you drink on the rocks! Of course, we also need a Barry to guide us through the distillery types and the countries and why they differ from one to another..

We tasted rum that was double distilled for that extra flavours you can definitely taste the whisky and cognac scents.. Those that aged to provide that smooth and throat warming sensation.. My favourite of the night was definitely the Plantation 20..smooth, with a hint of vanilla.. Yum!

A Rum masterclass with Barry is a must.. Grab a group of friends and head over and see Barry.. Email Cottons and they can provide costing for groups, it’s definitely worth that drunken feeling home.

Once once settle down in their newly open location on Vauxhall, enjoy some of their tasty Caribbean delights.. Their salt fish fritters are my favourite! With a little bit of a kick.

We sampled, their jerk chicken wings, calamari, chickpeas fritters, sticky ribs that fall off the bones, prawns.. A few of their starters to start the evening off.

📷 credit @lovepopupslondon📷 credit @lovepopupslondon

All of which goes really well with my Berry Explosion.. Or even the Cottons Rum.. Or anything really on their cocktails menu..

Now, have I experience one too many escape rooms since the phenomenon started early this year? .. has that made me an expert? or have I lost the love for it? No, no and no! is my answers.
I was invited back to try to solve the third room at ClueQuest, where our team need to find the hidden venom that when exposed will turn all of the human race into sheeps…baa baa you say!

📷 @jenjenbxlThis final room is no walk through as my team discovered, they have also up the ante, with high tech gadgets to challenge those who think they are IT savvy and escape rooms are for kids. Think again mister!

This was one of the hardest room I have been into, with some of the clues, our team felt was a little unclear? confusing? or was that just us?

As usual, I cant give away too much, but I can tell you that only 20% of people will be able to escape within the 60 minutes allocated. We needed an extra 10 minutes to escape, but we did it!!

If you love a challenge then ClueQuest is the place to go, with currently three rooms and a fourth in preparation, you never know, one day, you may get locked in!

This is not your average panto, if you are thinking of bringing the kiddies- under 18 is definitely not recommended! so leave the kids at home, and come with the mindset of having fun.

This experience is from the people Darling & Edge who have previously brought us some of the coolest events and immersive experience, think, Gingerline, Alice in Wonderland and the Old Vic Tunnels.

📷 credit @shinylifeforme

Ok, when I think of this, this is definitely no panto, more of a culinary cabaret experience, based loosely on the story of Beauty and the Beast (remember, I said loosely!) The story is played out amidst food, cocktails and amazing interactive set (hey, I think they have definitely built up their experiences!) FYI- people say a little, I say more than a little bit of adult humour thrown into the mix.

The entrance to this venue is via the tunnel walk way, so that get lost…

Once in, your senses will be hit buy actors dressed up to, men, women, animals, you name it, they had it, the dinning room was upstairs and if you needed the restroom, you will need to pass it, but to maintain the surprise, they had actors to lead you blindfolded through.. or you can just close your eyes.. no biggie.. don’t peak!

📷 credit @thevaults

The feast was a sharing experience, there was definitely enough food to go around.. my favourite was the cheesecake– and nope it was not my dessert! It felt like the course never stopped coming- they had cocktails for brave, fairy liquid was a goodie!

📷 credit @thevaultsOnce you have completed your feast, that’s when the story hits the high points and the party really gets on the way- bring your dancing shoes as you will surely be needing it!

Thanks again to Jo from Love Pop Ups London for another great immersive experience and the people from the Vaults for the tasty and fun experience.

I was kindly invited to attend a performance at the vaulty Towers at Waterloo.. It’s not normally a venue I have experienced.. The decor I say is eclectic, it’s a miss mash of anything and everything put together.. One area had period clothing, the other is covered in ivy and gargoyles and skulls around.. I think if I didn’t need to be here I wouldn’t have found it.

The bar had a great choice of drinks available so that should definitely keep the punters happy.

There was a little misunderstanding on my part I must add.. That I turned up for the wrong performance.. But the previous show was running 45 mins late (that was the show I missed!) so there was a little bit of a wait.. However the crew was very accommodating and allowed me to see the next show instead.. I didn’t know where the show was going to be held as it wasn’t obvious.. But when the time came.. The cellar door open leading to a basement area where the performers were waiting.. It’s not a proper state more set up like a front room with miss match furniture.. No seating plan.. Just huddle together was the instructions.

The comedy sketch was based on improvisation.. So audience participation was important and I enjoy these as you do feel part of the performance and you can lead it and there was a code word ‘die’ if you don’t like where the sketch was going.. Call me a control freak.. But that sense of control is really enjoyable for me..

The MC Michael said that going forward they will have more guest performances so I would be interested in going back to see more..

Please note I attended this as a promotional event however all reviews are my own.. Thanks to @lovepopupslondon for arranging this and also secret cellar for the performance.

So do you love cheese much?? For me, I love a good mature cheddar, or a creamy brie never goes amiss in my household. So when some friends and I heard about a Raclette pop up? We really had to go and give it a try.

The Raclette Bar is currently hosted at the Clapham North pub just directly opposite Clapham North tube station on the Northern line. You can’t miss it guys!
Enter the building from the side and once inside it was a reminiscence of the Ski Museum I visited recently in Oslo. Old ski poles everywhere and skis stapled to the pillars of the room.. It’s really atmospheric.

No let’s talk about the Raclette… So the menus served is a set meal, two courses for £20 or three for £24. For £24, it’s a no brained however bear with me here…

Starters consisted of three different flavours surrounded the cheese theme, baked camebert, goats cheese stuffed prunes, and a salmon tartar. All three were delicious. The baked camebert was my favourite.

No let’s talk about the Raclette? We were given three different types of cheese, smoked, blue, and the standard.. Together with some cured meats to go along the cheese.

The staff would come and light your individual Raclette devices… So that you can melt the cheese at your own pace… Oh food I mention that you also get unlimited sides, potatoes (like mini baked potatoes), salads and rosemary fries.. So delicious

I was so full at the end of the mains that I sheepishly asked them to cancel my dessert, creme brulee as I couldn’t manage another bite.. We washed all this down with a lovely bottle of Shryah… I think I’ll be dreaming about cheese for a while…

I have always loved going to the cinema. I remember date night always included a visit to the movies.. However I have found one that I cant wait to return. The Rivoli Ballroom at Crofton Park, is one amazing art deco venue..

I have heard that this venue was once in the music video of Tina Turner ‘private dancer’ so have a watch if you want to see it.

The Rivoli Ballroom was opened in 1890 so you can tell that the building is rich in its decor and history of what it has been through. The current owner Bill has had this venue for a long time and it has been used as a typical Ballroom, most recently it has been used to screen classic movies which gives the cinemagoer a more authentic feel of that era and how amazing life would have been. Bill is usually found chatting to punters visiting so do stop and have a chat and find out a little more about the history he brings.

The Ballroom has two bar areas and even if you aren’t a drinker please go in and have a look at the Australian oak surrounding the bar and the deep velvet couches makes it so comfy you don’t want to leave.

The Ballroom is opposite Crofton Park Station so you won’t miss it.. It’s on the overground and unless you are local I recommend taking public transport as it’s very easy to get to. Each ticket cost around £12.00 and they normally screen classics.. So if you want to see the latest blockbuster this might not be for you..

The Ballroom is turned into a cinema, however the Ballroom feel is never far away. There are seats along the edges of the room which you normally catch lovers making full use the love seats for a more intimate experience.

Photo credit @bambibluedo

The venue also offer the typical balloon experience, the first Saturday of every month is dedicated to same sex Ballroom. Jive night every third Saturday and the best thing disco on the last Saturday of every month.. So what are you waiting for?

Thanks again to Rivoli Ballroom and Love Pop Up London for the experience.. If anyone ask me where they should go for a special movie night.. This is definitely the place to be!

An art exhibition that explores the usage of both, vivid patterns, colours and reflections to excite the individual needs to explore.

This is a concept maze designed by Camille Walala. The maze uses different bold patterns and colours to lead you through the exhibition, every corner you turn insights a different experience and feeling.

A key part of this installation is the imaginative puzzle that invites the solver to differentiate the difference between what may be two identical images.
You can definitely feel like getting lost in it.

The exhibition is free to enter however due to the size and popularity of it.. Now gallery offers a ticketed event. So please make sure you book to avoid any disappointment! The gallery is usually less busy on a weekday so if you are passing by then pop in and have a look.

Also, the exhibition can be viewed on the upstairs platform, do pop up as they have a model of the new development for those interested in architecture or design infrastructure it a delight to explore. This exhibition is on until 24th September so to don’t wait..

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